Too many students spend their days in buildings with unhealthy air, have limited opportunities for physical activity, and have inadequate access to fresh water, nutritious food or a school nurse. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes the need for schools to support the whole child and specifically acknowledges the importance of health and wellness in supporting learning and academic achievement. Under ESSA, states have more authority and flexibility in establishing their plans and strategies. Thus, as states begin to implement ESSA, it is critical they do so in a way that supports health and wellness. This guide is intended to support school health and wellness advocates who want to work with their state policymakers as they respond to the new requirements and opportunities in ESSA. It focuses on a few key sections of the law, where the potential impact on student health is the greatest, and provides recommendations and advice for how health and wellness priorities can be integrated into state plans.